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By Hucky Austin

You may not think it, but celebrities, for all their fame and money, are just like us–they have personal problems, too. Problems/habits can include addictions ranging from drugs to alcohol to sex. Some engage in illegal activities, or exhibit immoral behavior. Because these individuals are famous, when they stumble, often a bodyguard is the one to catch them when they fall–and therein lies one of the real dilemmas of this line of work–the fall can be very public and very damaging to everyone around them. (Think Michael Jackson, Britney, Anna-Nicole).

Sadly, it seems some of the rich and famous have distorted views of themselves, in which they are above the law. They often expect those closest to them (including personal assistants, bodyguards, drivers and the like) to turn a blind eye to their various unethical or illegal proclivities, and in some cases may even ask employees to participate in procuring drugs or prostitutes.

Once a celebrity has been busted, some bodyguards breach the “confidential” aspects of a client’s lifestyle, in hopes of a high pay-out from the tabloids. It is greedy, mean-spirited and two-faced. If a bodyguard has taken a job and been witness to or participated in illegal or immoral activities–and accepted a paycheck–then (s)he was paid for their silence. [Read more…] about A SLIPPERY SLOPE: Balancing Ethics with Discretion as a Bodyguard

By Hucky Austin

Kudos to Kid Rock’s bodyguard “Little Bear” for conducting advance work and finding a hidden surveillance camera that was installed in Rock’s dressing room. The performer was in St. Paul, Minnesota at the Myth night club, where his personal security team discovered the illegal spyware.

As someone who has worked for years with entertainers, I cannot express enough how important it is to be diligent conducting advance work. It will not only protect the client, but help you to keep your job! I am not going to lie–it’s not exactly the most interesting or exciting aspect of working as a bodyguard, but it can make everything go smoothly.

I remember times when I’d have already put in a long day with a particular celebrity, who would then tell us he’d like to go to a local club after the concert. As exhausted as I might have been, it was important to never become lax in advance work. I’d run out ahead and figure out the best route, how to get the celebrity in through an unobtrusive entrance, find a safe “holding area” for him, locate the restrooms, all emergency exits, and anticipate and watch for any fans or paparazzi who had somehow managed to figure out where we were going, and followed. I’d take notes of where everything was and the security team would all be apprised of the venue floor plan.

You work with a lot of maps when you’re a bodyguard–when we traveled out of the state (or the country) we were constantly consulting maps. We may have flown in a private jet, but once landing in a city that is on the look-out for a celebrity’s arrival, life is anything but private, and we’d need to know exactly how to get from the airport to the hotel. [Read more…] about Advance Work First Line of Defense